Saturday picnic showed support for area emergency responders

Pettis County Fire Protection District Lt. Matthew Gardner shows Zakary Schulze, 5, a self-contained breathing apparatus Saturday at the Emergency Responders Picnic hosted by Greg Hopper and area businesses on the Missouri State Fairgrounds. Zakary attended the event with his brother, left, Noah Ray, 3, and grandparents Sandy and Mike Schulze, of Sedalia. “I thought it would be a great activity, and it gets them more comfortable with the people who could help them,” the boys’ grandmother said.

Faith Bemiss | Democrat

Morgan Sheppard, 3, was invited to sit inside the Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter by flight nurse Gary Bartholomew, right, a registered nurse Saturday morning at the Emergency Responders Picnic. Morgan’s father, Travis Sheppard, left, adjusted a bracelet given to her by the flight paramedic Carolyn Foland also an RN. Morgan’s mother, Scharla Sheppard, said they found out about the event through a Nixle alert sent out by the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office that morning.

Faith Bemiss | Democrat

Sedalia Police Department Officer Derick DeSalme adjusts a helmet for Zayn Parker, 8, as he tried on gear from department’s search and entry team Saturday morning. Zayn was attending the Emergency Responders Picnic with his parents, Amanda Parker and Jeff Kearney, and brother Liam, 15-months, all of Sedalia. “He likes all this stuff,” his mother said. “We’re going to meet all those who protect and serve.”

Faith Bemiss | Democrat

Saturday morning SPD Chief John DeGonia, right, talks with Air Evac Lifeteam Pilot Jim Chandler at the Emergency Responders Picnic hosted at the Missouri State Fairgrounds. The picnic and meet-and-greet was hosted in support of all emergency responders in the local area. Proceeds for donations at the event were given to Child Safe of Central Missouri, Inc.

Faith Bemiss | Democrat

The American Flag flies high atop the Sedalia Fire Department’s ladder truck on Saturday at the Emergency Responders Picnic. Also attending the meet-and-greet were representatives of Pettis County Ambulance District, SPD, PCFPD, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Pettis County Sheriff’s Department, and Air Evac.

Faith Bemiss | Democrat

Pettis County Fire Protection District Lt. Matthew Gardner shows Zakary Schulze, 5, a self-contained breathing apparatus Saturday at the Emergency Responders Picnic hosted by Greg Hopper and area businesses on the Missouri State Fairgrounds. Zakary attended the event with his brother, left, Noah Ray, 3, and grandparents Sandy and Mike Schulze, of Sedalia. “I thought it would be a great activity, and it gets them more comfortable with the people who could help them,” the boys’ grandmother said.

Morgan Sheppard, 3, was invited to sit inside the Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter by flight nurse Gary Bartholomew, right, a registered nurse Saturday morning at the Emergency Responders Picnic. Morgan’s father, Travis Sheppard, left, adjusted a bracelet given to her by the flight paramedic Carolyn Foland also an RN. Morgan’s mother, Scharla Sheppard, said they found out about the event through a Nixle alert sent out by the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office that morning.

Sedalia Police Department Officer Derick DeSalme adjusts a helmet for Zayn Parker, 8, as he tried on gear from department’s search and entry team Saturday morning. Zayn was attending the Emergency Responders Picnic with his parents, Amanda Parker and Jeff Kearney, and brother Liam, 15-months, all of Sedalia. “He likes all this stuff,” his mother said. “We’re going to meet all those who protect and serve.”

Saturday morning SPD Chief John DeGonia, right, talks with Air Evac Lifeteam Pilot Jim Chandler at the Emergency Responders Picnic hosted at the Missouri State Fairgrounds. The picnic and meet-and-greet was hosted in support of all emergency responders in the local area. Proceeds for donations at the event were given to Child Safe of Central Missouri, Inc.

The American Flag flies high atop the Sedalia Fire Department’s ladder truck on Saturday at the Emergency Responders Picnic. Also attending the meet-and-greet were representatives of Pettis County Ambulance District, SPD, PCFPD, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Pettis County Sheriff’s Department, and Air Evac.

Pettis County Fire Protection District Lt. Matthew Gardner shows Zakary Schulze, 5, a self-contained breathing apparatus Saturday at the Emergency Responders Picnic hosted by Greg Hopper and area businesses on the Missouri State Fairgrounds. Zakary attended the event with his brother, left, Noah Ray, 3, and grandparents Sandy and Mike Schulze, of Sedalia. “I thought it would be a great activity, and it gets them more comfortable with the people who could help them,” the boys’ grandmother said.

http://sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TSD082916EmergencyResponders-1.jpgPettis County Fire Protection District Lt. Matthew Gardner shows Zakary Schulze, 5, a self-contained breathing apparatus Saturday at the Emergency Responders Picnic hosted by Greg Hopper and area businesses on the Missouri State Fairgrounds. Zakary attended the event with his brother, left, Noah Ray, 3, and grandparents Sandy and Mike Schulze, of Sedalia. “I thought it would be a great activity, and it gets them more comfortable with the people who could help them,” the boys’ grandmother said. Faith Bemiss | Democrat

Morgan Sheppard, 3, was invited to sit inside the Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter by flight nurse Gary Bartholomew, right, a registered nurse Saturday morning at the Emergency Responders Picnic. Morgan’s father, Travis Sheppard, left, adjusted a bracelet given to her by the flight paramedic Carolyn Foland also an RN. Morgan’s mother, Scharla Sheppard, said they found out about the event through a Nixle alert sent out by the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office that morning.

http://sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TSD082916EmergencyResponders-2.jpgMorgan Sheppard, 3, was invited to sit inside the Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter by flight nurse Gary Bartholomew, right, a registered nurse Saturday morning at the Emergency Responders Picnic. Morgan’s father, Travis Sheppard, left, adjusted a bracelet given to her by the flight paramedic Carolyn Foland also an RN. Morgan’s mother, Scharla Sheppard, said they found out about the event through a Nixle alert sent out by the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office that morning. Faith Bemiss | Democrat

Sedalia Police Department Officer Derick DeSalme adjusts a helmet for Zayn Parker, 8, as he tried on gear from department’s search and entry team Saturday morning. Zayn was attending the Emergency Responders Picnic with his parents, Amanda Parker and Jeff Kearney, and brother Liam, 15-months, all of Sedalia. “He likes all this stuff,” his mother said. “We’re going to meet all those who protect and serve.”

http://sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TSD082916EmergencyResponders-3.jpgSedalia Police Department Officer Derick DeSalme adjusts a helmet for Zayn Parker, 8, as he tried on gear from department’s search and entry team Saturday morning. Zayn was attending the Emergency Responders Picnic with his parents, Amanda Parker and Jeff Kearney, and brother Liam, 15-months, all of Sedalia. “He likes all this stuff,” his mother said. “We’re going to meet all those who protect and serve.” Faith Bemiss | Democrat

Saturday morning SPD Chief John DeGonia, right, talks with Air Evac Lifeteam Pilot Jim Chandler at the Emergency Responders Picnic hosted at the Missouri State Fairgrounds. The picnic and meet-and-greet was hosted in support of all emergency responders in the local area. Proceeds for donations at the event were given to Child Safe of Central Missouri, Inc.

http://sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TSD082916EmergencyResponders-4.jpgSaturday morning SPD Chief John DeGonia, right, talks with Air Evac Lifeteam Pilot Jim Chandler at the Emergency Responders Picnic hosted at the Missouri State Fairgrounds. The picnic and meet-and-greet was hosted in support of all emergency responders in the local area. Proceeds for donations at the event were given to Child Safe of Central Missouri, Inc. Faith Bemiss | Democrat

The American Flag flies high atop the Sedalia Fire Department’s ladder truck on Saturday at the Emergency Responders Picnic. Also attending the meet-and-greet were representatives of Pettis County Ambulance District, SPD, PCFPD, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Pettis County Sheriff’s Department, and Air Evac.

http://sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TSD082916EmergencyResponders-5.jpgThe American Flag flies high atop the Sedalia Fire Department’s ladder truck on Saturday at the Emergency Responders Picnic. Also attending the meet-and-greet were representatives of Pettis County Ambulance District, SPD, PCFPD, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Pettis County Sheriff’s Department, and Air Evac. Faith Bemiss | Democrat